Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 introduction

Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-T70 is an 8 Megapixel compact with a 3x optically-stabilised zoom lens. Announced in August 2007, it features a number of gadgets including a 3in touch-sensitive widescreen monitor and the capability to not just recognise faces, but wait until your subjects are actually smiling before taking the shot.

Like earlier Sony cameras with touch-screens, the T70 uses its monitor for almost all operations beyond the power, zoom and shutter release; it also allows you to do some fun options like tapping on the area where you’d like the camera to focus.

The new Smile Shutter mode is the logical step beyond face detection and allows you to set a threshold as to how happy your subjects have to look before the camera releases the shutter and takes the picture. A novelty perhaps, but one which could ensure no more grumpy photos – and it is optional, so you don’t have to use it.

In terms of more traditional specifications, the T70 features a 3x optical zoom lens with an equivalent range of 38-114mm. This may not zoom-out anywhere near as wide as some of the better compacts today, but on the plus-side, the T70 does its zooming entirely within its body, thereby maintaining a very slim form factor. Like many of Sony’s latest compacts, a vertically sliding and tactile front panel acts as a power switch and lens protector.

Sony’s T70 may boast gadgetry beyond most models, but enters a highly competitive market with some strong, albeit more traditionally-featured rivals. So the big questions are whether the gadgets are novelties or genuinely useful, and of course how the general performance and image quality measures-up.

We’ll reveal all in our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 review, putting its innovative features to the test while comparing it against the best compacts available today. And as always, we’ll give you a tour of its highlights, including a demonstration of the touch-screen and Smile Shutter features in our Sony T70 video tour.

Testing Notes

Following our convention of using default factory and best quality JPEG settings to test cameras unless otherwise stated, the T70 was set to its best quality 8M mode with Auto White Balance, Multi metering and Normal Colour mode. The Super SteadyShot anti-shake mode was enabled for all handheld shots, and disabled for tripod-based tests.